Arunachal CM admits rampant encroachment of government land in state

Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki on Saturday admitted rampant encroachment of government land throughout the state by people including government officials and politicians and said that the state government was initiating appropriate measures to check the menace.

Responding to a zero hour motion raised in the assembly by Congress member Takar Marde, Tuki said that encroachment was possible because of certain errors in the state Land Act of 2001 and the government was examining it and would amend it soon.

"The cabinet recently took a decision and accordingly the state government has directed the concerned department to prepare a report on the status of government land and official quarters allotted to different individuals and to submit its report within two months," Tuki disclosed adding, the government was seriously taking the issue and trying its best to control it.

He said, under the Public Premises Act, the government has already initiated measures to clear all highways, roads, approach roads and sector roads in the state capital which were narrowed down by unauthorized encroachment.

Stating that the state capital was constructed in a haphazard manner earlier with little provisions for expansion, the Chief Minister said that plans were on anvil to systematically design the state capital.

"We are planning to construct multi-storeyed buildings for providing accommodation to the government employees who are staying on rented buildings for want of official quarters," Tuki said.